Does my Child Need Therapy for Anxiety? Or ADHD?

In the words of our Maryland Licensed Child and Family Therapists…

The answer may surprise you. Child therapy targeting anxiety is highly effective in reducing the impact of a child’s anxiety in daily life. And the right combination of interventions delivered by a licensed therapist can help children and families celebrate and harness the power of ADHD.

But it’s not the only way. Research is beginning to show that parents can attend therapy themselves to treat their child’s anxiety. It’s true!

A method called SPACE: Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions, developed at the Yale Child Study Center by Dr. Eli Lebowitz, has been shown to be just as effective as child therapy. Without the child ever setting foot in a therapist’s office!

This is likely true for child anxiety and ADHD

This is great news, for many reasons. First, It’s no secret that Child Therapists in our area are FULL. Demand for child therapy has skyrocketed this year.

This is due to the increased anxiety kids are feeling during the pandemic (especially kids with ADHD). And increased anxiety parents are feeling about their kids. But knowing why doesn’t help you find a therapist.

Child therapists fill up faster for a reason. Children are most available for therapy between 4 and 8 pm, and on Saturdays. That’s a maximum of 4 time slots per therapist per day.

Parent therapy, on the other hand, can happen on your lunch break. Or at times of day when your kids are in school. You still need a skilled Child and Family Therapist to work with. But the chances of finding one with a midday opening are much better than your chances of getting in at night.

Getting YOU to feel better is an important part of helping your child.

As family therapists, it’s no surprise to us that interventions like SPACE work. We are in the business of improving symptoms by improving relationships. It’s what sets Better Together Family Therapy apart from other child therapy practices.

You see, it’s the disruption in your relationship with your child that actually prompts you to seek help. You child is struggling, and it’s causing you pain.

Maybe because your child’s anxiety has blocked you from doing activities you know your family would enjoy. Or because you have to fight every morning to get out the door to school. Or because calls from school about behavior are causing stress for you and your child.

And if we don’t address the strain this puts on your family, we haven’t healed the hurt you came in with. Yes, if we could erase the anxiety or the ADHD it might make life easier. But it wouldn’t fix the patterns of relating the symptoms made you create.

Supportive Parenting for Anxiety and ADHD

When we’re raising children with anxiety or ADHD, we often structure our family life to reduce symptoms. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. But it is a lot of work.

Allowing an extra hour for handling your child’s anxiety. Or for giving repeated reminders of every step in the morning routine. Can make getting out of the house exhausting.

This process also makes you feel like a terrible parent. You can’t get your child to do the things that seem so simple for other kids. You must be doing it wrong. Or you unfairly got stuck with a difficult child.

NO

It isn’t you. You aren’t the problem. You just have the ability to play a role in the solution.

Your child isn’t the problem either. Your child is having symptoms: fears, panic, distraction, hyperactivity, impulsivity. And these symptoms drive your child to avoid certain activities and situations.

Because the symptoms make these situations HARD. For both of you.

But the avoidance doesn’t make the symptoms go away. The good news is that reacting to them differently CAN make them show up less often. And less intensely.

Therapy can help.

A Child and Family Therapist can help you sort out when to accommodate the symptom. And when not to. So that you’re helping your child as much as you should. No less and no more.

And when you do this skillfully, the effect of the symptoms on your life is reduced. Family life gets better. You’ll feel less angry at or frustrated with your child. And more competent in your parenting.

If you’re ready to get started, click here to view our services and request an appointment.

Not sure if your child is struggling or just being a kid? Try Does My Child/Teen Need Therapy?